Refining LUTs and gradient maps with blending modes

Keyboard Shortcuts

Like the how a Lookup Table (LUT) or a gradient map is affecting an image, but think it is a little strong? You can use the opacity slider and blend modes in Adobe Photoshop to blend it in more. How do you use blend modes? Author Richard Harrington demonstrates how to use blend modes with LUTs or gradient maps to get the look you want.

- We've been using lookup tables and gradient maps…and you've seen that the adjustment layers…can be blended or have their opacity slider moved.…I've shown you a few of my favorites,…but I want to show you how quick…and easy it is to experiment.…Let's open up another image,…File, Open,…and in this case, I'll just work…with an image here of a model.…Let's click to apply a lookup table,…and in this case, we'll apply the Crisp Warm Look.…

Now that it's applied, I like it but it's a little strong.…Well with your Move tool selected,…or any other tool that doesn't have it's own opacity slider,…you can just type in the number, such as five…to lower it to 50% opacity,…or 20, and that backs it off,…making the adjustment more subtle.…Let's take that back up to 100.…I just press the zero key to do so,…and now, I'm going to change it's blending mode.…Sure you can click on this popup list…and start to step through these,…but if you just use the keyboard shortcut of Shift-Plus,…you can very quickly step through the blending mode,…

Resume Transcript Auto-Scroll

Author

Released

7/21/2016

Have you used lookup tables or gradient maps with Photoshop lately? Probably not. Most photographers aren't aware of them. But they're powerful tools for performing all manner of color correction and photo styling tasks.

In this course, Rich Harrington demystifies lookup tables (LUTs) and shows how to use them with Photoshop, Lightroom, and other Adobe CC applications. He also shows how to use gradient maps—where tints are based on the luminance values in the image—to add creative color and noise to images, and how to organize, store, and share these assets with other Creative Cloud programs and other photo and video professionals.